2011 Chicago Bears General Discussion

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Now that Mario Williams is pretty much gone, I wonder if you guys go after Dwight Freeney.

If he's not too expensive, I think I'd rather bring in John Abraham than give anything up in trade for Freeney.

Worst case scenario...we hopefully just bring back Idonije and draft someone.

[regoob2]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Now that Mario Williams is pretty much gone, I wonder if you guys go after Dwight Freeney.

If he's cut I hope so. I dont think we can fit in a $14 mil cap #.

[bearsfan_51]

DE is easily our biggest need now, but I'd probably rather see us sign a cheaper vet, and/or use an early pick on one.

[bearsfan_51]

2 years- 6 mil for Davis.

That's quite a bit for a guy with 28 career catches, but I do like Davis as an all-around athlete.

The Bears are really opening up the books for Emery.

[Hurricane Ditka]

More than a quarter of his catches have been touchdowns. Maybe Tice will be able to figure out a way to use his athleticism. Marshall and Davis will make for some huge red zone mismatches.

Seeing as Emery has been a career draft guy, I'm anxious to see what he has up his sleeves come draft day.

[MidwayMonster31]

Davis did a great job blocking last season. I want to see what he can do when they let him loose. I think these moves are letting Emery be flexible on draft weekend, where he won't have to reach to fill needs. Right now, Mercilus would make the most sense with 19, but trading back doesn't seem like a bad idea.

[Bearsfan123]

So what's our depth chart at WR now?
1- Brandon Marshall
2- Earl Bennet
3/4- Eric Weems/ Devin Hester
Johnny Knox still is hurt....

[MidwayMonster31]

Weems should not be seeing the field on offense. He is a special teams guy. I would like to add one more receiver who can be a big play guy. Bennett can work as a 3.

[bearsfan_51]

Knox is a big play guy, assuming he can get healthy. Knox or Bennett shouldn't be anyone's #1, but they are fine as a 2/3 combination.

[BeerBaron]

Knox was very nearly paralyzed. I'm not expecting all that much from him when he first gets back. Anything he can provide will be a bonus, but I don't think we should count on him.

[Bearsfan123]

So we currently have 6 receivers.
Brandon Marshall
Earl Bennett
Devin Hester
Eric Weems
Dane Sanzenbacher
Johnny Knox

So does this mean that we basically aren't looking at receivers in the draft anymore?

EDIT: Oh yeah, and any chance we go after Wimbley? Or we no longer got the cash?

[bearsfan_51]

I doubt we go after Wimbley since we resigned Idonije. My guess is that we draft his replacement.

I also don't think Sanzenbacher is long for the NFL. He's a nice story and hard worker, but there's a reason he wasn't drafted, and I don't think he adds much on special teams.

[Monomach]

Call me crazy, but I'm ready to spend our first rounder on Mike Wallace.

-#1 Brandon Marshall
-#2 Mike Wallace
-Earl Bennett in the slot
-Hester/Sanzenbacher/Knox (if not on IR) to round out the roster

I don't really count Weems as a WR.

Can't double cover both Marshall and Wallace, right?

[bearsfan_51]

Makes sense, but the franchise isn't going to put that much money into the WR position. Baby steps.

[regoob2]

Originally Posted by Monomach

Call me crazy, but I'm ready to spend our first rounder on Mike Wallace.

-#1 Brandon Marshall
-#2 Mike Wallace
-Earl Bennett in the slot
-Hester/Sanzenbacher/Knox (if not on IR) to round out the roster

I don't really count Weems as a WR.

Can't double cover both Marshall and Wallace, right?

We cant afford him. The great thing about first round picks now is the nothing contract that comes with them.

[Bearsfan123]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...in-thomas-mean

That is frustrating. Why sign a guy who couldn't play receiver for ANYONE else just to be a ST player when we could draft someone just as good. Now we assuredly WONT be drafting any receiver because the roster is full. I don't like how Emery is just throwing around cash at nothing players. 3 ST players (Weems, that LBer, and now Thomas), really Emery? And he hasn't resigned Okoye yet either. He is beginning to piss me off.

[Hurricane Ditka]

So much of what the Bears want to do is dependent on having lights out special teams. Lets not forgot Sam Hurd is locked up, and Corey Graham and Zach Bowman signed elsewhere. Maybe Emery would rather his draft picks make other meaningful contributions and is filling the special teams holes through free agency?

[bearsfan_51]

Throwing around cash? It's a one-year contract....

It's not even a sure thing he makes the team.

[Hurricane Ditka]

I think he'll make the team. Weems, Costanzo, and Thomas will soften the blow of losing Knox(probably), Hurd, Graham and Bowman on special teams. I still think a receiver gets taken in the second or third.

[regoob2]

Knox will likely be on the PUP list and Sanz can be cut.

[Bearsfan123]

I'd be fine with the signings if they weren't all at a position of weakness already. We now have 3 receivers we dress for the singular reason of Special teams. Hester, Weems, and Thomas. Hester will get snaps at WR only because of his contract. He's sub par there and everyone knows it. He couldn't find any corners, another position we need warm bodies that are good special teams players?

My complaint isn't simply that he is bringing in ST only players, it's that he is loading a position that is of great offensive importance with the bulk of them. He inherited Hester, I get it. Fan favorite, record holder, deep burner. Not much else to him. Then he signs Weems for three years, who is supposedly just as bad at the WR position. Okay, he was looking for a guy to hold up Knox's position, I don't like it, but okay. But then he throws another ST guy in there in Thomas. He has cluttered the position with guys who should be 4th and 5th on WR depth charts and they are stuck in positions where they will be getting playing time there.

I'm a huge special teams fan, but I think it's ridiculous to load one position up like this leaving it as a liability for what the position is supposed to actually do, aka run routes and catch the ball. Maybe Knox will end up on IR and Hester will get a small lingering injury that will make Weems very important. IDK, I just dont like seeing our already bad WR position getting worse depth instead of better.

EDIT: And I don't see how we can even conceive of drafting a receiver. Marshall, Bennet, Hester, Weems, Thomas. That's if we cut Komar, Sanzenbacher, and place Johnny Knox on IR. That's a lot of receivers.

Well anyway. Im glad this forum is alive again. Bears fans don't post enough. I'd rather argue than have silence.

[Docta]

Originally Posted by Hurricane Ditka

I think he'll make the team. Weems, Costanzo, and Thomas will soften the blow of losing Knox(probably), Hurd, Graham and Bowman on special teams. I still think a receiver gets taken in the second or third.

EDIT: Nevermind. Misread your post.

[bearsfan_51]

That's what he said (read it again)

[Gay Ork Wang]

signing them now doesnt mean we keep them on the roster.

[Bearsfan123]

Originally Posted by *** Ork Wang

signing them now doesnt mean we keep them on the roster.

You think we will cut Weems from a 3 year deal? I doubt it. Thomas, maybe, but not Weems. I was surprised, in the FA thread the Devin Thomas move gained a lot of love. Well anyway, now that WR is almost off the table. We really only have a few first round choices. DE, OT, OG, CB. Right now my big board goes something like this,

Michael Floyd-I can still wish can't I?
Whitney Mercilus
Melvin Ingram
Jonathan Martin
C Glenn
Dre Kirkpatrick

Oh yeah, anyone else keep going back and watching Brandon Marshall highlight vids and getting really excited?